Spurrier wants Gamecocks to stay sharp

Posted: Saturday, October 13, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In reaching the top 10, Steve Spurrier has accomplished something seldom done before at South Carolina. Now, the Gamecocks' coach is trying for something even rarer still - staying among college football's best.

It seems that any time a South Carolina team rises into the sport's highest rankings, it tumbles back out soon after. The seventh-ranked Gamecocks (5-1, 3-1 SEC) hope to avoid repeating their checkered history when they travel to North Carolina today.

In 2001, the Gamecocks moved to No. 9 with their 5-0 start but fell out of the top 10 the following week after a 10-7 defeat at Arkansas.

They spent three weeks at No. 8 during the 1988 season before a loss at GeorgiaTech knocked them back down.

The greatest high - and lowest low - for many South Carolina fans came in 1984 when the late Joe Morrison led his team to a 9-0 mark and No. 2 ranking. But losses to Navy (38-21) and Oklahoma State (21-14), in the Gator Bowl, dented the program's only 10-win season.

Spurrier knows a thing or two about sticking around the top 10. During his 12 ultra-successful seasons at Florida, the Gators had streaks of 60, 32 and 19 straight games in which they were ranked among the country's 10 best.

Spurrier is happy his Gamecocks can enjoy their lofty position. He'll remind them, though, "about the history of South Carolina - when they're ranked in the top 10, they usually get beat the next week," Spurrier said.

"We mention history a little bit," he said. "I think you have to learn a little bit from history. But there's no guarantee we can avoid that. No guarantee at all."

Especially when even Spurrier's scratching his head a little about his team's success so far this year.

The coach pointed out the Gamecocks rank next-to-last in the SEC in rushing and in stopping the run. Freshman quarterback Chris Smelley is a work in progress - a solid thrower one minute, overwhelmed by decision-making the next.

South Carolina's guards have been swapped out as much as Spurrier's quarterbacks, both left and right on their third starters this season.

So how can the Gamecocks lead the SEC Eastern Division and stand behind No. 1 LSU as the second-highest league team in the rankings?

Spurrier says it's the team's character.

The Gamecocks are "a scrappy bunch," he said. "Struggling, make a few plays here and there, keep them out of the end zone, try to get more points than the other team. We've done pretty well with that."

The players share their coach's demeanor.

Center William Brown says players haven't spent much time discussing the top 10 or where this season might lead. They've got too much on their plate with North Carolina (2-4) today.

"The one thing you don't want to happen is to get too cocky," Brown said. "To me, a ranking doesn't really mean anything until the end of the year."

When the players regrouped Monday for practice, there was some cheerfulness about what they've done. Brown says he didn't sense any satisfaction with a job only halfway accomplished.

"It's great to be ranked right there and to talk about and to have a little something to brag about right now," he said. "But in reality, it doesn't even matter."

Spurrier likes his team's tough nature, discovering different ways to win while South Carolina's offense develops.

He was happy with his team's play the past two games. Defensive end Eric Norwood had a punt block to swing momentum in a 38-21 over Mississippi State, then added two fumble recovery touchdowns in the Gamecocks' 38-23 win over then-No. 8 Kentucky last Thursday night.

Spurrier understands the rankings are something for Gamecock fans, unaccustomed to steady, long-term success, to gush over. He'll says he'll wait until the rest of the year plays out before judging his team among the country's best.

"Hopefully," Spurrier says, "our players are realistic to know that we're a long ways off from really being an outstanding team."

Still, the Gamecocks get a little bit closer to that with each victory - and every step up in the rankings.